High-Performance Data Platforms
DBA or Developer? Who is responsible for ensuring your data platform is delivering the right performance?
Most applications require a back-end database for user information, configuration, stock, orders, transactions, etc. Having the correct design has a huge effect on the performance of your website, mobile app, or API. Once you reach critical mass, with high volumes, any impact of poor design is amplified.
The DBA (Database Administrator) is responsible for the smooth running of the platform, checking resources are available, and ensuring backups are in place. They often oversee many systems and are time-pressured.
The Developer (SQL or Database level) designs and implements the structures required to hold your data. They make sure you can store and retrieve any information necessary to run your application.
Which of these is responsible for performance? Both DBA and Developer must have a part to play. Who is ultimately accountable? Experience shows a gap, where this problem is not owned, leaving it hanging.
Addressing this problem, we need to:
- Identify database operations that take too long
- Explore execution plans and data access paths
- Check the performance of the storage
- Amend indexing strategies
- Rewrite queries for optimal performance
- Test, measure, validate, and improve
Failure to address these points leads to increased costs, high energy consumption, poor application response times, irritated consumers, reputational damage, and unmotivated IT colleagues.
Engage experts who can assess and remediate these issues, to deliver reliable and predictable performance, making the best use of your existing IT investments.
About the author:
Jamie Steele works for Advisory Services here at Version 1.
